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Changi passenger traffic down 0.6% year on year in August; first decline in 19 months

Changi Airport saw less passenger traffic in August 2016 compared to the same month last year, when Singapore celebrated its 50th year of independence.

PHOTO: CHANGI AIRPORT

CHANGI Airport saw less passenger traffic in August 2016 compared to the same month last year, when Singapore celebrated its 50th year of independence.

This is its first decline in 19 months, but it did not stop August from being the second busiest month in terms of passenger traffic at the airport this year, figures released by the Changi Airport Group (CAG) on Tuesday showed.

In addition, there were more aeroplane landings and takeoffs in August, and cargo shipments posted strong growth.

The airport handled 4.92 million passenger movements last month, a decline of 0.6 per cent year on year, despite strong growth from major markets such as China and South Korea.

The last time passenger traffic fell year on year was in January 2015, when it dipped 3.8 per cent.

In August, passenger traffic on China and Korea routes was particularly strong, CAG noted, with both rising by more than 7 per cent.

"Overall, traffic in August 2016 was relatively steady compared to a year ago when Singapore celebrated its Golden Jubilee with many activities; there was also a four-day extended weekend then. Traffic had increased 6.6 per cent in August 2015," said CAG.

CAG noted that August was the second busiest month in terms of passenger movements for Changi Airport so far in 2016 - just behind July's total of 5.18 million.

For the first eight months of the year, Changi Airport registered 6.5 per cent more passenger movements, with growth underpinned by South-east Asia (in crease of 8.9 per cent) and Northeast Asia (increase of 10.5 per cent) traffic.

Aircraft movements last month were 2.2 per cent higher at 30,260 landings and takeoffs. Cargo shipments rose 7.6 per cent to reach 163,150 tonnes compared to the same period last year.